Stanford car hire

Driver's age: 26-65

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Cheap car hire in Stanford

Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.
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Economy car
Economy
M
Compact car
Compact
M
Intermediate car
Intermediate
M
Standard car
Standard
M
Full-size car
Full-size
M
Luxury car
Luxury
M
People carrier car
People carrier
M
Passenger van car
Passenger van
M
Commercial car
Commercial
M
Pick-up truck car
Pick-up truck
M

KAYAK’s top tips for hiring a car in Stanford

  • Securing car rentals in Stanford is an ideal way to see the small city that is essentially the campus of Stanford University. You can get around according to your own schedule, and you also have the freedom to travel around one of the most interesting parts of the country. Located near the southern end of the San Francisco Bay, Stanford is within easy driving distance of San Francisco, San Jose, and Sacramento. In Stanford car rentals, you can even take a scenic drive down the Pacific coast along US Highway 1.
  • Because it is located just a 45-minute drive to the north of Stanford, the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) makes an ideal location for securing Stanford car rentals. At SFO, you can conveniently pick up and then drop off your Stanford car rentals at the airport’s Rental Car Center. To access this consolidated facility, you can take the AirTrain Blue Line, SFO’s people mover system that operates 24/7, stopping frequently at every terminal on its way to the Rental Car Center.
  • Peak traffic times in Stanford, specifically on the Stanford campus, are between 88 am and 9 am, and then from 5 pm to 6 pm. Traffic tends to be particularly congested around Junipero Sierra Boulevard and Stanford Avenue, so those driving car rentals in Stanford should exercise caution and drive defensively if you use these roads. Also, the community of Stanford has a daytime population that is approximately double its nighttime population. So, driving around Stanford and parking becomes much easier and much less congested after 5 pm.
  • One of the biggest problems drivers of car rentals in Stanford will face is dealing with university event traffic. The start of a semester, graduation, Parents Weekend, and Homecoming are all portents of congested traffic that you should work to avoid or circumvent. There will also be traffic on days of Stanford home football games as well as other campus events. You can look up online or call the Office of Special Events and Protocol at Stanford to find out if there will be upcoming event traffic. You can also access a Stanford event calendar online to help you plan your travel around congested events.
  • Book your car hire in Stanford at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
  • Standard hire cars in Stanford are around 60% cheaper than other car types, on average
See more tips

FAQs about hiring a car in Stanford

  • How much is the price of fuel in Stanford?

    The average price of fuel in Stanford is R63,48 per litre over the past 30 days. Filling up a tank of fuel costs between R762 and R1 016, depending on the car size.

  • What is the most popular car hire in Stanford?

    Standard (Hyundai Santa Fe or similar) is the most frequently booked car hire type in Stanford.

  • How can I find car hires near me in Stanford?

    Take a look at our extensive car hire location map to find the best car hire deals near you.

  • How much does a Standard car hire cost in Stanford?

    A Standard car hire in Stanford costs R1 162 per day, on average.

  • How much does an Intermediate car hire cost in Stanford?

    An Intermediate car hire in Stanford costs R1 081 per day, on average.

  • How much does a Special car hire cost in Stanford?

    A Special car hire in Stanford costs R1 104 per day, on average.

  • What type of car is recommended for driving in Stanford?

    For those driving car rentals in Stanford, the type of vehicle you choose will very much depend on why you are there. If you are there for business, you may want to rent a luxury sedan to arrive at your appointments in style. If you are visiting friends, you might want a larger car, such as an SUV, to make driving with large groups of people easy. If you will be visiting Stanford on a Stanford University event weekend, you may want to rent as small a car as possible, such as a compact or an economy car, to make negotiating traffic and snagging parking easier.

  • What's the speed limit in Stanford?

    In Stanford on the campus of Stanford University, the speed limit is 20 mph in Escondido Village. The speed limit is 10 mph in any parking lot, parking structure, or Pedestrian Zone. At Serra Mall and The Oval, the speed limit is 15 mph. All other streets on campus grounds have a speed limit of 25 mph. The speed limit of Interstate 280, which skirts Stanford, is 70 mph.

  • Where are the best places to park in Stanford?

    In the city of Stanford on the Stanford campus, parking meters are in effect Monday through Friday from 8 am until 4 pm., except for holidays observed by Stanford University. Permit parking in Visitor Pay Lots, Green Zones, Time Limit Zones, and areas with resident permits is in effect Monday through Friday from 6 am to 4 pm. A visitor permit costs around $4.50 an hour. Parking is free on campus after 4 pm and on weekends, and after 6 pm at The Oval. A parking meter in Stanford costs around $1.50 an hour.

See more FAQs

Stanford car rental reviews and directory

 
All ratings and reviews are collected from KAYAK users with a verified car hire booking. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.

Hertz

Cleanliness

8.0

Comfort

2.0

Pick-up/Drop-off

6.0

Value for money

2.0

4 locations in Stanford

Show locations

Locations in Stanford

360 Oak Rd

+1 650 876 1866

Monday09:00 - 17:00
Tuesday09:00 - 17:00
Wednesday09:00 - 17:00
Thursday09:00 - 17:00
Friday09:00 - 17:00
Saturday09:00 - 17:00
Sunday09:00 - 17:00

360 Oak Road

+1 650 876 1866

Monday09:00 - 17:0014:00 - 17:00
Tuesday09:00 - 17:0014:00 - 17:00
Wednesday14:00 - 17:0009:00 - 17:00
Thursday14:00 - 17:0009:00 - 17:00
Friday09:00 - 17:0014:00 - 17:00
Saturday09:00 - 17:00

625 El Camino Real

+1 650 617 0386

Monday08:00 - 12:0013:00 - 17:00
Tuesday13:00 - 17:0008:00 - 12:00
Wednesday08:00 - 12:0013:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 12:0013:00 - 17:00
Friday13:00 - 17:0008:00 - 12:00

690 San Antonio Road

+1 650 493 0232

Monday07:30 - 11:3013:00 - 17:00
Tuesday07:30 - 11:3013:00 - 17:00
Wednesday13:00 - 17:0007:30 - 11:30
Thursday13:00 - 17:0007:30 - 11:30
Friday13:00 - 17:0007:30 - 11:30

Filters

Show reviews that mention

Reviews

2,0 Poor

Anonymous, Nov 2021

KAYAK
Staff member provided a vehicle that was a size smaller than what the reservation indicated, then lied about it when asked. I was eventually allowed to switch vehicles.

2,0 Poor

Sander, May 2021

KAYAK

Cons:

The rental cars office closes at 12pm. We booked a rental at 12pm, but no one told us we have to be there exactly on time or earlier. We got to the rental station a bit after 12. Everything was closed, we had to get a rental somewhere else for a ridiculous expensive last minute price. You should tell püeople that the rental car station in Los Altos closes at 12pm

6,8 Okay

Marisa, Sept 2020

KAYAK

Pros:

The price

Cons:

I spoke to Hertz at 8am and 1pm to confirm my reservation and let them know I would be picking the car up close to 5pm, and a guy called me at 3pm to tell me they do not have a car for me. I was irate. He was very easy going and basically said 'sorry, my hands are tied and there is nothing we can do.' I made this reservation a week in advance, and paid in advance to be sure I would have a car. This was unacceptable. I eventually was put in touch with the manager at this location and he found me a vehicle (mid size SUV, not full size) that I was able to pick-up at 5pm. Mani was helpful and he did find a vehicle, but this should not have happened. Mani said that he asked the 3rd party rep to shut-off reservations a week in advance because they were not going to have enough cars. They had 70 reservations and only 40 cars available. That's 30 people who had their days ruined due to the overbooking

10,0 Wonderful

gita, Jul 2020

KAYAK

Pros:

Daniel was awesome. I didn’t realize this location closed early. When he going out I was going to be late he waited for me. The entire team at this location is 5 stars. They also found a larger and better car for. Will definitely rent again. Thanks again for an exceptional service.

1 out of 4

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Cleanliness

1.9

Comfort

1.9

Pick-up/Drop-off

1.9

Value for money

1.9

2 locations in Stanford

Show locations

Locations in Stanford

360 Oak Rd

+1 650 843 4990

Monday00:00 - 00:00
Tuesday00:00 - 00:00
Wednesday00:00 - 00:00
Thursday00:00 - 00:00
Friday00:00 - 00:00
Saturday00:00 - 00:00
Sunday00:00 - 00:00

814 San Antonio Rd

+1 650 843 4990

Monday08:00 - 12:00
Tuesday08:00 - 12:00
Wednesday08:00 - 12:00
Thursday08:00 - 12:00
Friday08:00 - 12:00
Saturday09:00 - 17:00
Sunday00:00 - 00:00

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Reviews

4,0 Mediocre

Anonymous, Feb 2025

Luxury

KAYAK
The email confirmation took me to an old address which is now a hertz. Thankfully a hertz worker was there while they were closed to directed me to the correct address almost a mile away. I had to walk there in unideal weather. Then the car I reserved was not available. I was also charged for a car seat which I did not use and was not provided to me.

2,0 Poor

Anonymous, Oct 2023

Passenger van

KAYAK
ORDERED A 12 PASSENGER VAN FOR A GROUP OUTING, ORDERED CONFIRMED. AFTER SETTING EVERYTHING UP I GET A CALL THE NEXT DAY , SORRY WE DO NOT HAVE A VEHICLE FOR YOU, TAKE MY ORDER, CONFIRM MY ORDER, CANCEL MY ORDER "1 STAR"

9,6 Wonderful

Kathy, Aug 2020

KAYAK

Cons:

Not having to go to another store because the car they were suppose to have Waiting for me at their store Was not available

10,0 Wonderful

Anonymous, Jul 2020

KAYAK

Pros:

Pick-up & drop-off were perfect! The site manager easily adjusted my pick-up time to match emerging changes in my travel plans.....and when one of our group developed a medical emergency which cancelled our trip outright, management re-did our One Way drop-off Weekly rate to become a 2 Day Local contract with no issues. The car was perfect and our travel would have been perfect as a result!

1 out of 3

Avis

6,3

Okay

One location in Stanford

Show locations

Locations in Stanford

4230 El Camino Real

+1 650 493 8888

Monday08:00 - 12:00
Tuesday08:00 - 12:00
Wednesday08:00 - 12:00
Thursday08:00 - 12:00
Friday08:00 - 12:00
Saturday08:00 - 12:00
Sunday08:00 - 12:00

Filters

No reviews available

Dollar

5,6

Fair

One location in Stanford

Show locations

Locations in Stanford

816 San Antonio Road

+1 650 739 0370

Monday08:00 - 12:00
Tuesday08:00 - 12:00
Wednesday08:00 - 12:00
Thursday08:00 - 12:00
Friday08:00 - 12:00

Filters

No reviews available

Thrifty

5,5

Fair

One location in Stanford

Show locations

Locations in Stanford

816 San Antonio Road

+1 650 739 0370

Monday08:00 - 12:00
Tuesday08:00 - 12:00
Wednesday08:00 - 12:00
Thursday08:00 - 12:00
Friday08:00 - 12:00

Filters

No reviews available

Budget

No score available yet

One location in Stanford

Show locations

Locations in Stanford

4230 El Camino Real

+1 650 424 0684

Monday08:00 - 12:00
Tuesday08:00 - 12:00
Wednesday08:00 - 12:00
Thursday08:00 - 12:00
Friday08:00 - 12:00
Saturday08:00 - 12:00
Sunday08:00 - 12:00

Filters

Reviews

10,0 Wonderful

Tony, Nov 2023

Intermediate SUV

KAYAK
All good

1 out of 1

2 travellers who hired a car in Stanford gave the car agency they used an average rating of 5.9

Car hire locations in or near Stanford

Good to know

Most popular car type

Standard

When to book a car hire in Stanford

Average daily price per month
Car hire prices as pick-up date approaches

Stanford car hire information

Pick-up locationStanford
Car types
Hire locations3
Airport locations0

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